The Sky Blues were mercilessly pantsed by a rampant Phoenix, 3-1.
Sydney, still wallowing badly in the bog of poor form, were without their captain and first-choice striker Alex Brosque. Shane Smeltz, a former Phoenix player, replaced him, facing his former club with a stiff mandate; Graham Arnold’s team has not be fluent in attack this season.
As it turns out, their defending isn’t too flash either. Wellington rushed into an early 2-0 lead, punishing some astonishingly inept defending. The Sky Blues first allowed a trickling cross to roll all the way from the wing to far post, where it was flatulantly cleared. The ball rolled submissively to Blake Powell, who shot on the turn into the corner. Then, a sweetly stroked through-ball sent in Watson, who finished with confidence. 2-0, in two minutes. Roly Bonevacia slapped in a third goal before the 40 minute mark. Arnold’s face was a picture, his gaze as unfocused and despondent as his teams defending.
Wholesale defensive changes were made by Sydney at half time, and Holosko hit back ten minutes into the second half, profiting from a dangling cross that fell nicely. But alas, even though Sydney were markedly better in the second half, the damage that they suffered in the first was mortal. 3-1 it stayed, and Arnold’s team face slipping four points behind the top six if Perth win their match tonight.
Here are the best tweets.
Graham Arnold coaches his 150th @ALeague game, just the third coach to reach the milestone after Ernie Merrick & Ricki Herbert #SYDvWEL
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) March 12, 2016
Referees who make throw ins be taken from the correct spot. ? #SYDvWEL
— Matt (@DTDmatt) March 12, 2016
Death, taxes and Sydney crashing out of the finals #SYDvWEL #Aleague
— Peter (@nutwals) March 12, 2016
Some appalling defending for these two Phoenix goals. #SYDvWEL pic.twitter.com/32bWaDvi4q
— Evan Morgan Grahame (@WWofSport) March 12, 2016
Sydney FC. pic.twitter.com/JEg1eVHDuQ
— Outside90 (@Outside90) March 12, 2016
The @WgtnPhoenixFC has led 2-0 on 35 previous occasions.
They have gone on to win all 35 of those matches. #SYDvWEL
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) March 12, 2016
Interesting stat | @RolyBonevacia is the most fouled player and the player that gives away the most fouls in the league! #SYDvWEL
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) March 12, 2016
#SYDvWEL pic.twitter.com/gaY8E5z6Wn
— Laurence (@LaurenceRosen) March 12, 2016
Wellington tried hard not to score that one, bless their merciful hearts. #SYDvWEL pic.twitter.com/FXLKfeUpjd
— Evan Morgan Grahame (@WWofSport) 12 March 2016
Holosko starts what will be – and I don't think I'm being too hasty – a remarkable 4-3 comeback. #SYDvWEL pic.twitter.com/f43hOxHhr8
— Evan Morgan Grahame (@WWofSport) 12 March 2016
A good news story coming out of Allianz Stadium today. https://t.co/is5vTK9JwM
— SBS – The World Game (@TheWorldGame) 12 March 2016
Japanese referee has done a good job with this game. Kept it flowing well done. #SYDvWEL #foxfootball
— Glenn Dwyer (@glenndwyer) March 12, 2016
Leaving en mass from Allianz…#SYDvWEL pic.twitter.com/4MltUQxDee
— Vince Pelle (@SydneyfcVince) March 12, 2016
I wonder if now is a good time to let Sydney fans know Marc Janko has scored 15 goals in 22 games for Basel this season #SYDvWEL
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) March 12, 2016
@WgtnPhoenixFC have tried to hand the game to @SydneyFC in the second half but Sydney are too inept to accept it #SYDvWEL
— David Jack (@DavidJack20) March 12, 2016
An #aleague game without contentious decisions & hysteria, where the referee didn't make it all about him. Who'd have thought? #SYDvWEL
— Ancelottery (@Ancelottery) March 12, 2016
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